In 1956, Colin Chapman and Frank Costin sat down and penciled a new front-engined sports racer to be powered by the tidy and powerful Coventry Climax 1100 cc engine. This new car, dubbed the “Eleven”, featured a 70 lb tubular spaceframe reinforced with stressed aluminum panels and slippery Costin-designed aluminum bodywork. Chapman’s Eleven was quick from the start and soon began chocking up race wins including a class victory at Le Mans with Bicknell/Jopp and even a series of closed…
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